Knights of The Dauntless Princess

Chapter 4: Waking Up

Amara, I'm glad... you are alive.

Amara seemed to hear her mother's voice and saw her smiling face. The voice slowly awakened her, but her mother was not there when she totally opened her eyes.

Was it a dream? Am I dreaming?

Amara furrowed her brow, and the pain showed on her face as she tried to move from lying on the bed. That was when she noticed her body covered in bandages.

W-What? What happened to me?

"Grandma! Grandma!!!" shouted a young boy, catching Amara's attention. "She's awake!"

She turned her gaze towards the door and saw the boy staring at her in astonishment. Shortly after, a mid-fifty-year-old woman arrived and immediately approached her.

"How are you? How do you feel?" she asked with concern.

Amara was still confused; she didn't know who they were, but based on their speech, it seemed they were the ones who helped her and treated her wounds.

"I-I'm fine. My body hurts a bit, and I feel thirsty," Amara replied.

The old woman glanced at the boy and instructed him, "Go get some water for her, Dion."

"Okay, Grandma! I'll get it right away," the nine-year-old boy quickly responded.

The old woman turned her attention back to Amara and helped her sit up. "Take it slow. Your wounds haven't fully healed yet."

"T-Thank you," Amara said. She tried to recall everything that had happened but couldn't remember it clearly. "I'm sorry, but I want to know where I am. What happened? How did I end up here?"

Sadness appeared on the old woman's face. "Don't you remember what happened to you?"

Amara fell silent for a moment, trying to remember everything. Slowly, her memories came flooding back; she remembered her family's horrific fate and her near-death experience at the hands of their own soldiers. Her body trembled when she fully recalled everything, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"N-No, that can't be true! It was just a dream! A nightmare!!! That didn't really happen, did it?" Amara cried, unable to accept that such a tragedy had befallen her family.

The old woman felt deep pity for the bereaved princess. She also knew it was so hard for Amara to accept it.

Dion arrived with a glass of water and approached Amara. "Please don't cry. Here, drink this to make you feel better."

Amara turned to look at him, and when she saw his faint smile, she saw a glimpse of her brother Dale in him. Her lips quivered, and tears streamed down her face. Dion was taken aback when Amara hugged him tightly, crying uncontrollably.

"D-Dale!!! Dale!!!" she sobbed.

"I'm sorry, princess, but I'm not Dale. I'm Dion, and that is my grandmother, Lillian," the boy said, looking at his grandmother.

His grandmother gestured to just let the princess cry. "She knows, my dear. She probably just remembers her beloved young prince through you."

The boy seemed to understand, and so he also embraced Amara without saying a word. She continued to weep for a few more moments, but when she realized they seemed to know something about what had happened, she quickly composed herself.

"Are you okay now, princess?" Dion asked.

Amara released her grip on him and wiped her tears. She nodded at the boy and tried to smile. "Yes, thank you, Dion."

The boy's smile widened, relieved that he managed to bring a smile to the princess's face. "You're welcome! I'm happy to see you're finally awake! You've been sleeping for three days."

Amara was so surprised when she heard what the little boy said. She immediately glanced at Lilian, "T-Three days? Is that true?"

The old woman nodded in confirmation, "Yes. Since my son brought you here unconscious, you've been asleep until now."

I have been sleeping... for three days? That long?

"Your son? Is he Dion's father?"

"No, he's my uncle!" Dion chimed in energetically.

"Dion, please don't be too excited. She is the princess of our kingdom," the old woman reprimanded the boy gently. "Forgive my grandson; he can be quite spirited. Allow me to apologize for any inconvenience he may have caused you, dear princess."

Amara smiled softly, "No apologies needed. I should be the one apologizing for the trouble I've caused you. Please, just call me Amara."

"B-But you are the princess—"

"I insisted, so, please? Okay?" Amara sweetly smiled at her.

"Ahmm, okay, then please call me Lillian," the woman introduced herself as she smiled back at the princess. "Dravis brought you here to our home. To be honest, we didn't know you were the princess until—"

Lillian paused, averting her gaze as if struggling to speak her mind.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Lillian?" Amara wondered.

"Dravis brought you here, wounded and unconscious. He told us how he found you. You were covered in wounds, and while I was tending to your injuries, I saw the ring you wore with the royal family symbol. I wasn't entirely sure if my hunch was correct that you were the princess until the next day when news spread throughout the town that the king and his family were all slain," Lillian revealed, her emotions weighing heavily on her heart. "A-And the one accused of the murders… is none other than you, my dear princess!"

Amara's eyes widened at what she heard. She couldn't believe that she was accused of killing her own family.

"Me? Who would believe that I could murder my own family!?" Amara's tears welled up again, and anger flared in her heart. "The one responsible is Lord Laxus! He is a traitor!!!"

Lillian was equally shocked by Amara's statement. She looked around, sensing the need to be cautious.

"Is that true? But what was spread throughout the entire town is that you are a rebellious child of the former king! Everyone believes… you killed Lord Lennox! In fact, anyone who can provide information about your whereabouts will be rewarded!" Lillian spoke with uncertainty. "And Lord Laxus is now the standing king of Emmet's Kingdom."

"What!? No! He can't be the king!" After learning that Lord Laxus had assumed the throne, Amara couldn't contain her anger. It all made sense now why he had done what he did to her father – it was to take his place as the ruler of the entire kingdom!

He was a deceiver! A manipulator! How did he manage to make people believe such lies!?

As Amara clenched her trembling fists tightly, she felt a sense of calm when Lillian held her hand.

"I want to apologize to you, princess, for the loss of your family," Lillian said, then a sad smile appeared on her lips. "But I also want you to know that we had no intention of revealing your presence here because we believe you are innocent in all that has happened. I know; I could see it in your eyes."

Tears welled up in Amara's eyes once again, and she nodded at the old woman. "Thank you, Lillian."

It seemed like the merciful heavens answered my prayer. I am fortunate to be saved and be founded by them. Now that I am alive, I must be cautious, but I also need to think about how to clear my name! I must also figure out how to reclaim the kingdom, but how? What should I do!? Where should I begin?

They heard the house's main door open, indicating someone had arrived. The little boy, Dion, excitedly ran out of the room to see who it was.

"It looks like he's here," Lillian smiled with a slight furrow in her brow.

"Huh? Who has arrived?"

"Grandma! Uncle Dravis is here!!!" Dion shouted, and upon hearing that, Amara felt a sudden uneasiness.

"My son has arrived," Lillian said with a sigh. "I just hope he's not drunk again."

Drunk?

Amara suddenly remembered that the man who saved her was indeed a drunken man. Judging by Lillian's tone, she assumed that he was always drinking alcohol.

"Uncle, you stinky!" Lillian heard her grandson say, and he was as if pinching his nose to avoid the smell of his uncle. Lillian rubbed her forehead as it seemed she was disappointed in her request; Dravis was drunk again.

Lillian glanced at the princess and forced a smile despite the embarrassment. "It seems my troublesome son is drunk again. Rest here for a while. I'll just handle him."

"I'm fine here. You don't have to worry about me," Amara replied.

Lillian nodded at her before finally leaving the room. Amara could hear Lillian's voice as if she was scolding someone. Listening to Lillian's voice reminded her of her mother's scolding her because of her stubbornness.

Amara lowered her head, and again, tears streamed down her face. Memories flooded back, and the pain enveloped her heart as if her mother's presence gently whispered through the corridors of her mind. She couldn't control her emotions due to the few memories that remained with her.

What should I do, Mother!?

Amara was startled when the room door suddenly opened again, and a man entered. The young lady couldn't utter a word but followed the seemingly indifferent man with her eyes as he walked in.

I-Is that... Dravis?

Amara tried hard to recall the appearance of the man who saved her. She had thought he was a handsome young man, so she couldn't believe her eyes when she saw him again. He had long hair almost covering his eyes and half his face. He had a short mustache and beard, and the scent that lingered around him was that of alcohol.

The man continued to walk as if he didn't see anyone else in the room. He approached a cabinet and opened it. Amara's eyes widened, and she screamed when he suddenly started undressing.

"W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? CAN'T YOU SEE I'M HERE?"

Dravis completely removed his upper garments before turning to the princess. Amara was dumbfounded. Upon seeing the sculpted form of the young man's body before her, a surge of embarrassment stirred within her as she was captivated by the sight of his attractive, half-naked physique.

Sh*t! Why is my heart beating so fast!?

"This is my room. You can leave if you want," the man said coldly and somewhat disdainfully.

He grabbed the belt of his pants and was about to take them off when Amara screamed again as she covered her face.

"What's happening?" Lillian anxiously asked as she returned to the room. She saw Dravis standing there, seemingly changing clothes. Lillian raised an eyebrow and yelled at her son, "You p3rvert! Don't undress here! Go to the bathroom!"

"But this is my room. Why would I leave?" the young man lazily replied, showing no concern.

"I told you to leave, you lvnatic!!!" Lillian snapped at her son in frustration.

"Whatever," the young man briefly replied, as if he didn't care about his mother's anger. He left the room carrying a towel hanging over his shoulder and a few spare clothes. "Fine, I'll leave this room even though I've walked naked around here every day."

Upon hearing that, Amara blushed intensely and felt like she was about to faint from extreme embarrassment.

"You son of a beast! Go away!" Lillian exclaimed, and as soon as her son finally left, she let out a sigh of relief. She looked at the princess again and forced a smile. "A-Are you okay, p-princess?"

"I-Is that... true, Lillian? That he... h-he has undressed several times in this room while I was unaware?" Amara sobbed in embarrassment.

Lillian couldn't bring herself to lie to the princess, so she simply responded with a jokingly soft laugh. "A-Ahmn yeah, but don't worry, he didn't do anything wrong to you. He just changed clothes because it's his room."

Amara turned even paler upon receiving confirmation.

What the heck!?